May 18, 2010

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Former Rep. Rob Simmons is trying to turn the revelation that Attorney General Richard Blumenthal claimed falsely to have served in Vietnam against both Blumenthal and his Republican Primary rival, Linda McMahon.

Simmons, a decorated Vietnam veteran, has trailed in the primary to McMahon, who made a fortune at the helm of World Wrestling Entertainment.

"It’s appalling that the Attorney General of the state of Connecticut – a highly-educated and trained lawyer – would misspeak about such a significant issue," Simmons told POLITICO this morning. "Clearly he knows he never was in Vietnam, and yet he’s on record saying he was in Vietnam – obviously to appeal to an audience, and that’s a very troubling disclosure.

"But it’s matched in some respects by Mrs. McMahon who brought the charge -- when just a few montnhs ago it was disclosed that she did not tell the truth about her college education and her degree -- which is again something everybody should realy know," Simmons said, referring to a Hartford Courant report that McMahon claimed on documents filed with her appointment to the State Board of Education that she had a degree in education, when her degree was in French.

"I got a degree in English Literature," Simmons said. "It's hard to make a mistake about something like this."

As the race comes to be dominated by Blumenthal's Vietnam claims, and questions about whether his candidacy will survive the week, Simmons argues that his well known record and Vietnam service make him a better counterpoint than McMahon, who has been beset by a serious of embarrassing reports over her time at the wrestling company. Her spokesman didn't immediately respond to an inquiry on Simmons' attacks.

"I think we have issues of character ron both sides of the discussion," he said, referring to another report. "She signed a memo when she was CEO of the WWF that tipped off a steroid deaing doctor to a federal investigation."

Simmons' sharpest contrast, though, is with Blumenthal, who would have to pit his exaggerated service against Simmons' 19 months in Vietnam, where he was awarded two Bronze Stars.

"Thirty years ago nobody would say they were a Vietnam veteran," he said. "But 30 years later, my generation of Vietnam veterans has been able to restore respect and honor for all who serve, so now [Blumenthal] wants to share some of that sunshine and glory."

UPDATE: McMahon spokesman Ed Patru emails his own blast in response:

There isnt a person in Connecticut who knows where Rob Simmons stands on the issues because Rob Simmons doesnt know where he stands on the issues. He's been for and against cap and trade, card check, the public option, raising the debt ceiling, budget busting deficit spending and the Iraq War. He's dropped 38-points in public polling and is losing this primary because he has a chronic problem with saying one thing and doing another.

John, I served in Viet Nam, Kerry also lied hugely about his so called Purple Hearts. He suffered "bandaid" wounds which the Dr. wouldn't even sign off on. He had to get some underling to. My Uncle, 26 yrs old, died in the Battle of the Bulge, breaking his neck while parachuting out of a burning plane. He's buried in Liege, Belgium among other heroes. His Purple Heart was well deserved and it offends me when phonies like Kerry embelish their records.

Ok, let me get this straight: In Ben Smith's world lying about serving in war isn't outrageous, but being called on your lies is an "attack" and apparently an outrage! And Ben "exaggerated service"? Who the f**k are you trying to kid? The guy outright lied about serving in Vietnam! It was not even an exaggeration! For it to be an exaggeration he would've had to at least served somewhere in South East Asia instead of getting 5 deferrments and hiding out in England like Blumenthal did!

So, when can we expect John "I served in Vietnam" Kerry to come forward and claim that Blumethal was with him when president Nixon ordered Kerry to attack Cambodia in December 1968....ya know BEFORE Nixon was even president!

Simmons' well known record? I wonder how much voters actually know about his Vietnam service, which doesn't stand up well to scrutiny. Apparently he was involved in prisoner abuse and war crimes there, to judge by his own statements. Simmons told the New Haven Independent that he used to use US doctors to convince Vietnamese captives that they were in grave medical danger, and then Simmons would threaten to withold medical care unless they told him whatever he wanted them to say. Under international treaties that is banned both as torture and as a war crime. Simmons' record is a hell of a lot darker than that of anybody else in the race.

blumenthal is obviously a liar that knows no shame,like so many others in Washington. he's on TV as I post this trying to dance around his lies, with some of his cronies from the Marine Corps reserve. God help the U.S.

There is no excuse for lying about any of this. We should let politicians keep their opinions to themselves and simply run a factual listing of each contender's voting record and any criminal record they may have and let us decide from there.

There is no excuse for lying about any of this. We should let politicians keep their opinions to themselves and simply run a factual listing of each contender's voting record and any criminal record they may have and let us decide from there.

Simmons is part of an endangered species, the R.I.N.O. He was always a democrat light who valued reelection more that principals.
Bluementhal will get a pass on this from the media but the voters get a little ****y about someone who dishonors a military uniform.

RESPONSE TO PUBLIC STATEMENTS MADE BY A PERSON OR PERSONS APPEARING TO REPRESENT THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE IN SUPPORT OF CONNECTICUT ATTORNEY GENERAL BLUMENTHAL
The Marine Corps League categorically disassociates itself from any comments made by a person who spoke at a press conference today in defense of Connecticut Attorney General Blumenthal and referred to himself as a member of the Marine Corps League several times, giving the impression that his statements were representative of the Marine Corps League’s position on the matter.
The National Bylaws of the Marine Corps League clearly state, in part: “The Marine Corps League shall never take part in any labor or management dispute or issue, and it shall be ever non-sectarian, non-political, and non-partisan; nor shall it be used as a medium of political ambition or preferment”.
Whether or not the politician misspoke or distorted his military background is a matter for the citizens of his state to decide. The Marine Corps League has not authorized any of its members to make a public statement on this issue in that doing so would violate our covenants.
Michael A. Blum
Executive Director
Marine Corps League
P. O. Box 3070
Merrifield, VA 22116-3070
Tel: 703/207/9588
FAX: 703/207/0047
E-Mail: ExecDir@MCLeague.org
Website: http://www.MCLeague.org